Donald Cerrone: UFC on FOX 6 fight with Pettis is power vs. flash

It’s a fight that easily could’ve happened two years ago, had the WEC stuck around.

But it didn’t, and through a series of circumstances only now are former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and former WEC lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone set to meet.

The two finally square off next week in Chicago at UFC on FOX 6, which takes place Jan. 26 at United Center. Cerrone (19-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Pettis (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meet on the FOX-televised main card following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Waiting’s what he and plenty of fans have been doing in regard to the matchup, which very well could determine the next in line for the UFC’s lightweight title. It’s looking more and more like champion Benson Henderson will next defend his belt against former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez this spring. If that’s the case, the Cerrone-Pettis winner could be next.

Cerrone believes Pettis, who has been out for nearly a year thanks to surgery and injuries, hasn’t done himself any favors by not being more active.

“The dude’s been running scared for two years,” he said. “He doesn’t fight. You can’t just not take fights. Three fights in two years.”

Cerrone, on the other hand, had five UFC fights in 2011 alone, going 4-1. He slowed the pace in 2012, but after his bout with Pettis he’ll be averaging a UFC fight every 13 weeks or so, which is a pretty serious clip.

Against Pettis, who is most famous for his “Showtime Kick” off the cage against Henderson at WEC 53 that helped seal the deal and win him the final lightweight title in the promotion’s history, Cerrone believes he’ll have to watch out for those types of moves.

“He’s really flashy in his strikes and I’m more power – so it’s power against flash,” he said. “He’s going to try to jump off the cage, and hopefully I can grab his little ankle. Have you seen ‘The Avengers,’ when the Hulk grabs that guy and slams him on the ground? That’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Comic book movie fantasies aside, though, Cerrone said watching out for Pettis’ creativity takes a backseat to what Pettis should be worried about.

“He’s got a real creative style, and it’s something I’ve got to be aware of,” Cerrone said. “That’s all. I’ve seen a lot, and I don’t need to worry about what he’s going to do. He’s got to worry about what I’m going to do. I’m going to come in there hard to fight my ass off. That’s what everyone wants to see – just knuckle down and go. I really plan on fighting. I really want to bring the fight to him.”

After all, the Jackson’s MMA product with six bonuses in seven UFC fights really doesn’t know any other way.

“That’s just how I am,” he said. “I don’t know if you can go out there and try to be exciting. That’s just how I fight.”

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